Cinema VinesSunny Deol’s long‑anticipated historical drama, Batwara 1947, has received a clean pass from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The film, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, was cleared without any cuts and awarded an A certificate, according to a post Deol shared on Instagram Stories on Monday. He celebrated the decision, calling the movie “a film about humanity and love” and urging viewers to watch it in theatres on the day of India’s Independence, 14 August.
The story follows a Mohajir family that moves to Lahore during the Partition and takes over an abandoned Hindu home. Adapted from the acclaimed play Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai by Asghar Wajahat, the narrative centers on an elderly Hindu woman who refuses to leave her house, creating tension between her and the newcomers. Despite the conflict, the film highlights the bond that develops between the two families, offering a message of hope amid one of history’s darkest chapters.
It marks a reunion for the 1990s hit duo of director Rajkumar Santoshi and actor Sunny Deol, who previously collaborated on films such as Ghayal and Damini. The project also brings together Santoshi and producer Aamir Khan for the first time. Khan expressed enthusiasm in a statement, saying, “This was one of the favourite scripts of Dharamji, and I am so glad he could see the film.”
In addition to Deol, the cast features Shabana Azmi, Preity Zinta, Karan Deol, Ali Fazal, Abhimanyu Singh, Khushi Hajare, and Kanikka Kapur. Preity Zinta returns to the screen after a hiatus of more than five years. The soundtrack is composed by A. R. Rahman, with lyrics penned by Javed Akhtar.
Deol reflected on the project’s long gestation, noting that the Lahore story had been in development for many years and that several actors had shown interest before the project stalled. He added that the success of Gadar 2 finally made the film possible. Batwara 1947 will hit theatres nationwide on 14 August, coinciding with Independence Day celebrations.
